Helen B. Zoner, 96, of Harmonsburg, passed away on Monday, March 20, 2017, at Wesbury Grace Health Center, in Meadville, after a short period of declining health.

She was born in Kingsville, PA (Clarion County) on October 8, 1920, to the late Orlo Starn Burnham Sr. and Estella (Dinger) Burnham. She was married to Calvin Zoner for 51 years; he preceded her in death on December 30, 2006.

Helen grew up in Clarion County, helping out on the family farms and dairy business. She graduated from Clarion Limestone School in 1939 where she was active in music and was a member of the very first girls’ basketball team. She attended Clarion Teachers College where she played basketball and hockey, was a member of the A Capella Womens’ Choir and Sigma, Sigma, Sigma National Sorority. She left college to take a Civil Service position in Washington D.C. where she worked at the Pentagon through the end of World War II. After the war, Helen returned to the family farm, which had relocated to the Shady Side Stock Farm in Harmonsburg and then to Indian Spring Farm in Conneautville. Once married, she and her husband operated their own dairy farm, until 1969. She also worked for many years at the Meadville Elks Club.

Through the years, Helen was involved with many church groups and choirs in Springboro, Meadville, Linesville, and Harmonsburg and was a member of the Harmonsburg Methodist Womens’ Club and the Pamona, State, and National Grange. She was a member of the Harmonsburg United Methodist Church for over 50 years and was the oldest member of the congregation.

Helen was well known for her cooking and baking skills, especially her lemon pie and chocolate cake. She was an avid sports fan, and could be heard from a distance cheering on her favorite teams, the Cleveland Browns and Cavaliers. She enjoyed gardening and was proud of her many bountiful flower and vegetable gardens. Helen was a loving wife, devoted mother and grandmother and truly cherished all of her family and her many friends. She will be missed greatly by all.

Survivors include: a brother, Dennis Burnham of Grove City; daughters Sylvia Wilcox and her husband, Bruce, of Franklinton, North Carolina and Melissa McLaughlin and her husband, Scott, of Saegertown; a son Douglas Zoner and his wife, Mary, of Austinburg, Ohio; grandchildren Ryan Curtis and his wife, Samantha, of Franklinton, North Carolina, Tyler Zoner and his fiancée, Becky, of Columbus, Ohio, and Aidanne and Brywn McLaughlin of Saegertown; a great-grandchild, Ryan Starn Curtis and another expected in September; nephews, John Burnham and his wife, Ruth of Conneautville and Rick Johnson of Warren, Pennsylvania; nieces, Cindi Kunz and her husband, John, of Centerville and Patricia Gillette of Conneautville; and many great nieces and nephews and cousins. In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by a brother, Orlo Starn Burnham Jr.; a sister, Leona Johnson; a niece, Cheryl Ellis; and a great-granddaughter, Savita Curtis.